Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

It will be helpful to put this in context. This week we will endeavour, through cooperation from the other side and from the crossbenchers, to complete our legislative program. There are a range of bills that require finalisation this week. In addition, we have an important debate today dealing with Afghanistan. It was to be scheduled between 7:30 and 9:00. However, there is a view around the chamber that it would be better to be held at the end of the urgency motion today, which would put the debate around five o'clock. It will then proceed for an hour and a half. That will allow the debate to receive the proper attention it deserves.

I seek the cooperation of the chamber to grant leave to amend the motion to allow that to occur. I thought it would be worthwhile to explain the reason behind this. It is an important debate and I seek the cooperation of the Senate to undertake that endeavour.

In addition, I have ensured that there is an open-ended adjournment on Tuesday night so that if people want to contribute to the particular debate or raise other matters then that is the opportunity for the Senate to do that. Normally, we would truncate it and have an ordinary 40-minute adjournment. But I think there are a range of issues that people want to raise throughout this week, so that will give an opportunity for senators to do that. Turning to the substantive motion, I seek leave to amend the motion before moving it.

Leave not granted.

At the request of Senator Arbib, I move:

That—

(1)   In the week beginning Monday, 21 November 2011, the following government business orders of the day shall be considered:

Social Security Legislation Amendment (Family Participation Measures) Bill 2011

Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave) Legislation Amendment Bill 2011

Business Names Registration (Application of Consequential Amendments) Bill 2011

Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2011

Social Security Amendment (Student Income Support Reforms) Bill 2011

National Health Reform Amendment (Independent Hospital Pricing Authority) Bill 2011

Work Health and Safety Bill 2011 and Work Health and Safety (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Bill 2011

Family Law Legislation Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) Bill 2011

Crimes Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2011

Parliamentary Service Amendment (Parliamentary Budget Officer) Bill 2011

Higher Education Support Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2011

Corporations (Fees) Amendment Bill 2011

Tax Laws Amendment (2011 Measures No. 8) Bill 2011 and Pay As You Go Withholding Non-compliance Tax Bill 2011

Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment (Fair Protection for Firefighters) Bill 2011

Auditor-General Amendment Bill 2011

Tax Laws Amendment (2011 Measures No. 7) Bill 2011

Navigation Amendment Bill 2011

Maritime Legislation Amendment Bill 2011

Aviation Transport Security Amendment (Air Cargo) Bill 2011

Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Participants in British Nuclear Tests) Bill 2011

Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Amendment (Oils in the Antarctic Area) Bill 2011

National Residue Survey (Excise) Levy Amendment (Deer) Bill 2011

Indigenous Affairs Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2011

Defence Legislation Amendment Bill 2011

Personal Property Securities Amendment (Registration Commencement) Bill 2011

Competition and Consumer Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2011

Broadcasting Services Amendment (Review of Future Uses of Broadcasting Services Bands Spectrum) Bill 2011

Competition and Consumer Legislation Amendment Bill 2011

Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Bill 2010 and Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2010

Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2011.

(1A)   On Monday, 21 November 2011, the routine of business from 7.30 pm to 9 pm, shall be debate relating to a ministerial statement concerning Afghanistan.

(2)   On Wednesday, 23 November 2011 and Thursday, 24 November 2011, any proposal pursuant to standing order 75 shall not be proceeded with.

(3)   On Tuesday, 22 November 2011:

  (a)   the hours of meeting shall be 2 pm to 6.30 pm and 7.30 pm to adjournment;

  (b)   the routine of business from 7.30 pm shall be government business only; and

  (c)   the question for the adjournment of the Senate shall be proposed at 10 pm.

(4)   On Wednesday, 23 November 2011:

  (a)   consideration of the business before the Senate be interrupted at approximately 5 pm, but not so as to interrupt a senator speaking, to enable Senator Sinodinos to make his first speech without any question before the chair; and

  (b)   consideration of government documents shall not be proceeded with.

(5)   On Thursday, 24 November 2011:

  (a)   the hours of meeting shall be 9.30 am to 6.30 pm and 7.30 pm to 10.40 pm;

  (b)   consideration of general business and consideration of committee reports, government responses and Auditor-General's reports under standing order 62(1) and (2) shall not be proceeded with;

  (c)   the routine of business from 12.45 pm till not later than 2 pm, and from not later than 3.45 pm, shall be government business only;

  (d)   divisions may take place after 4.30 pm; and

  (e)   the question for the adjournment of the Senate shall be proposed at 10 pm.

(6)   That the Senate shall sit on Friday, 25 November 2011 and that:

  (a)   the hours of meeting shall be 9.30 am to adjournment;

  (b)   the routine of business shall be:

     (i)   notices of motion, and

     (ii)   government business only; and

  (c)   the question for the adjournment of the Senate shall not be proposed until a motion for the adjournment is moved by a minister.

(7)   That the bills listed in paragraph (1) be considered under a limitation of debate and the allotment of time for consideration of the bills be as follows:

(8)   Paragraph (7) operates as a limitation of debate under standing order 142.

This motion will allow the Senate to operate in a focused and effective manner for the next five sitting days, and it will ensure that we complete the consideration of the government's legislative program for this year. There is some disappoint in having to move this motion, because the government has very few options available to it.